FAO to open liaison office in Russia to strengthen link

FAO will open a Liaison Office in Moscow in order to strengthen cooperation links between the Russian Federation and the Organization in the areas of agriculture and food security, the new office is set to open later this year.

"The opening of the liaison office opens up new partnership opportunities in pursuit of our common goals, exploring at full capacity the country's enormous potential, knowledge and vast expertise in the areas of agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry," said FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva at the signature ceremony.

Intention to further expand cooperation

The ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to FAO Alexander Gorban who said: "We attach great importance to the opening of the Moscow office. It is intended to further expand cooperation between FAO and Russia and its specialised agencies, industry associations, agribusiness and scientists. We hope that it will also enhance joint FAO-Russian programmes, promote wider dissemination of FAO knowledge in the Russian language, and strengthen FAO's position in the region in particular in the countries of Eurasian Economic Union".

Graziano da Silva also noted that the next step in the partnership would be the preparation of a Framework Agreement between the Russian Federation and FAO on strategic cooperation in agriculture and food security. Geographically, the partnership will focus on countries from Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus.